BEEVILLE — The Coastal Bend Crime Stoppers organization has joined the Beeville Police Department in trying to identify a person or persons who passed counterfeit $100 bills here a month ago.

The phony bills actually were made on legal currency paper that had once been $5 bills.

Assistant Police Chief Kenneth Jefferson said investigators were able to determine that the ink on one of the original bills had been bleached out, and the bill had been reprinted using what was probably a computer-scanned image of a real $100 bill.

Sgt. Jason Alvarez said at the time the bill was recovered that shining a light through the paper revealed the indelible features (watermarks) manufactured into the legal currency paper.

A light revealed the number “5” and the face of President Abraham Lincoln inside the paper.

Lincoln’s image is printed on a $5 bill. Benjamin Franklin’s face is printed on the $100 bill.

Jefferson said a close inspection of one of the bills showed it had been bleached and washed. He said the fibers imbedded in legal currency paper were visible, but one could tell the color of the fibers had been bleached.

Jefferson said the paper also appears weak and faded.

Anyone who might have information that could lead to an arrest in the case is asked to contact Coastal Bend Crime Stoppers at 362-0206 or call toll-free at (877) 362-0206.

Computer users may contact the organization by emailing information to coastalbendcrimestoppers.com.

If the information leads to an arrest in the case, the witness who provides the information could receive a reward of up to $1,000.

Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 120, or at reporter@mySouTex.com.